Dixie Chick Natalie Maines to Release "Mother" on May 7

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Dixie Chicks' country career was killed by Natalie Maines anti-George Bush comments, which she made onstage, but she is roaring back with a rock album, Mother, out May 7. It's another side of the singer's musical personality.

Heavily influenced by the more rock-based, edgy and intense sound of title track, and Pink Floyd cover, "Mother," Maines teamed up with friend and Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and guitar wizard Ben Harper, who co-produced the record with Maines. The album was recorded in Harper's studio.

"I wanted this music to be very different from the Dixie Chicks," she says. "Lots of albums by lead singers might just as well have been made by the band, but I think this is very different from anything the Chicks could make. That separation and distinction was important." And we think she succeeded! We love Maines, a frequent guest on and fan of The Howard Stern Show.

All of the album's 10 songs were selected because of personal connections to Natalie. Jeff Buckley's "Lover You Should Have Come Over" was a reminder for Maines of the early days in relationship with her husband, actor Adrian Pasdar. She discovered "Without You" on her friend Eddie Vedder's ukulele album, and heard a groove that she thought might fit.

What started out as a fun session with friend Ben Harper, quickly developed into the solo debut from one of our generations most coveted voices. And while this does not mean the end for The Dixie Chicks, as the group has some Canadian dates booked this summer, Natalie Maines is committed to Mother, and excited to share it with her fans. "I want to put all my efforts toward this album. I feel completely dedicated to it, and I want to give it everything I can," she said.